SVHC 5k Championship - Clydebank

Humid and windy conditions greeted the relatively small field who gathered in Clydebank Business Park this evening for the annual Scottish Veteran Harriers 5k Road Race Championship. Alan Derrick and Stuart Waugh were the only Harriers in attendance as this was the night before the Vertical Mile. Having handed back last year's winner's trophy, a rather weary and flat footed Alan lined up on the start line. The early pace was too fast (as usual at this race) and foolishly I hung on to the 5 minute mile pace until the leader tired after a half mile leaving me in the lead and gradually slowing over the next two miles. With a quarter mile to go, Paul Thompson (the early leader) was back on my shoulder and sprinting past unchallenged. I crossed the line in second place in 16:57, somewhat slower than last year but not surprising given the weekend's exploits (despite what you may read elsewhere, no sheep were involved!) and the relative lack of training over the preceding three weeks due to injury. Stuart was also suffering with his hamstring/glute problem but surprised himself by recording a respectable 19:58. I achieved a comfortable M45 gold performance standard whereas Stuart just missed the M60 gold standard by 1 second (subject to verifying the official times).

Alan